Lawmakers Split on the Cost of HB2

CHARLOTTE, NC — Nearly $4 billion is how much an Associated Press analysis shows the state of North Carolina has lost due to House Bill Two over the course of 12 years.

The AP compiled the numbers for months as lawmakers struggle to compromise on the controversial law, some denying it’s costing our state.

The AP says House Bill Two will cost more than $3.76 billion in a dozen years. It’s a headline causing controversy among lawmakers.

“These are not projections they are not opinions,” said AP reporter Emery Dalesio.

WCCB Charlotte spoke with Dalesio about how he and a colleague came up with the figure.

“[It’s] The broadest estimate that we could find without making up numbers, without just deciding how far in advance we wanted to guess, but the state’s estimate of what these companies would bring and how long of a time span they were looking at, is what we added up,” said Dalesio.

PayPal and CoStar would have brought two thousand jobs, according to the Charlotte Chamber. Add to that the sporting events and conferences canceled in the Queen City.

“People can decide whether that’s a lot of a little,” said Dalesio.

The AP article points out the state’s total economy is more than $500 billion a year.

Still, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest called the report bogus.

He wrote that over 12 years, “…our state will have a gross domestic product of over $6 trillion… If even using the AP’s numbers as fact, the total “loss” would equate to 0.06%, meaning on overall impact of approximately one-half of 1/10 of one percent,” said Lt. Gov. Forest.

He also argues hotel occupancy went up last year.

Still, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority says that industry did lose nearly $83.9 million when events left due to the law.

Sen. Phil Berger wrote in part: “While we continue to work toward a reasonable compromise that ends the distraction of HB2, national media outlets have reported the law has ‘failed to derail North Carolina as a regional and national (economic) powerhouse.’”

Gov. Roy Cooper wrote in part: “We now know that, based on conservative estimates, North Carolina’s economy stands to lose nearly $4 billion because of House Bill 2. That means fewer jobs and less money in the pockets of middle class families.”

“I think that the impact is real,” said Sen. Joel Ford. ”

Sen. Joel Ford, (D) District 38, says Republicans are missing the point.

“When you lose a $100 million dollar All-Star game, when you lose PayPal and other businesses who tell you that they’re not coming because of

House Bill Two, I mean, those are real numbers, and that’s a real impact,” said Sen. Ford.

The AP says regardless of how significant voters view the cost, companies are making decisions based on house bill two.

“Companies are making decisions based on how they perceive this state law. Whether you agree or disagree, that’s the companies that are doing that,” said Dalesio.